Responding to Parliamentary Questions in the House of Assembly from Opposition MP Diallo Rabain, Minister of Home Affairs Patricia Gordon-Pamplin provided details on the number of work permits related to the America’s Cup as well as for companies involved with the airport redevelopment.

Work Permits Related To The America’s Cup: 1,028

The first question was, “Will the Honourable Minister please provide the number of work permits issued and those that have been applied for and not decided on with employment categories [for issued and applied for] that are directly related to the America’s Cup?

The answer was, “Work Permits Issued: to date, there have been 1,028 work permits issued – see attached list. Work Permits Applied for, but no decision: to date, there have been 13 work permits applied for but there is no decision as yet – see attached list.”

According to a breakdown in the Parliamentary Questions reply, 236 of the permits were for sailor/crew support with all the six America’s Cup teams having between 18 to 51 in that category.

Some of the other categories listed included 225 for technical, 4 for medical, 45 for media/broadcasting, 344 for administration, and 13 for retails, with a note that “ACEA Retail and Hospitality Short-Term permits are for staff attending Bermuda during the AC35 event only.”

Screenshot from the Parliamentary Questions reply:

Work Permits Related To The Airport Development: 59

The question was, “Will the Honourable Minister please provide the number of work permits issued and those that have been applied for and not decided on, with employment categories [for issued and applied for] that are directly related to the Aecon, Skyport, Aecon Concessions, or any other company involved with the airport development?

The Minister’s reply was, “Work Permits Issued: to date, there have been 59 work permits issued – see attached list. Work Permits Applied for, but no decision: there are currently no work permits that have been applied for and which have no decision as yet.”

According to the listing of the 59 permits in the Parliamentary Questions reply, the work permits were for positions including, but not limited to, Project Director, Utility Locator, Pile Driver Operator, Loader Operator, Piling Specialist, Technical Analyst, Aviation Security Advisor, Senior Hydro-Geologist and more.

Mr Rabain also asked “how many work permit holders with employment within an occupation that requires National Certification [Electricians, Welders, Motor Mechanics and Landscape Gardeners] have obtained National Certification and how many that have not obtained National Certification and how long have they had a Work Permit without obtaining National Certification,” and the full reply is in the PDF below.

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Comments (35)

What was MP Rabain looking for? Something to fling against a wall in the hopes that a little would stick? Guess he did not know who he was dealing with. Good job Minister. Not even enough to leave a stain.

Yesitsme – What jobs did you apply for? I bet zero! Many Bermudians took advantage and created new businesses while many others will be working every day they can. Others have worked construction, IT, transportation, advertising, media, Food & Beverage. Talk to anyone working on the docks, trucking, Customs or transportation and ask them when they remember last being this busy! Speak with your local Fisherman and see how many have orders for fresh fish in the upcoming weeks. Talk to the hotels, the bike rental stores and let us know how they’re doing. Talk to the Liquor and Wine Merchants, the wholesalers and ask them if they have fewer staff. Talk to anyone working in the tourism field and ask if things are slow enough that they can take vacation in the next few months?

You know what, if you are too lazy to do that – just take a look at the amount of traffic going in and out of Hamilton today compared to five years ago.

Speak for yourself! I’m Bermudian in the hospitality industry and I’m seeing benefits from the AC and have been for a good while now, as have many others. Have you taken advantage of the opportunities created by the AC? Have you even looked at what they might be?

The only opportunities available are those for servants. I’m not interested nor am I serving anyone. The point remains that Bermudians by large are not benefitting and we are unprepared for an event of this magnitude. You clearly have not looked into it.

Yes, because we have so many Bermudian Senior Hydro-Geologists just waiting to start work. Let me guess, you are one of them!

People like you need a basic education before spouting off on social media. Get a clue. If we had all of the brains and skilled man-power to build an airport, do you think the one we have would be crumbling around our feet?